Self-help measures for your household are crucial in times of disaster because public resources often become overstretched, and immediate external assistance may be delayed. Preparing adequate emergency supplies, such as food, water, and daily necessities, ensures that your family can remain safe and comfortable at home while awaiting restoration of essential services.

Stockpiling Emergency Food and Water

Every household should maintain an emergency stockpile of drinking water and non-perishable food. Aim for at least 3 days’ worth of supplies (and ideally 1 week’s worth). Guidelines suggest storing about 1 liter of drinking water per person per day (and roughly 3 liters per person per day if you include water for cooking and basic hygiene). Consider variety and nutrition in your food supplies so that your family can continue to eat a balanced diet and not get too fatigued or demoralized by a monotonous menu during an emergency.

Some tips for food stockpiling:

• A 2 kg bag of rice provides ~27 servings (assuming 75 g of uncooked rice per meal). Stocking up on rice is an efficient way to have a staple carbohydrate on hand.
• Keep a supply of easy-to-eat, high-energy foods on hand. Good options include instant rice (“alpha rice”), dried noodles, cup ramen, and calorie-dense snacks like chocolate or energy bars. Also, store some pickled or canned foods (such as umeboshi plums or tsukemono pickles) to add variety and salt, as well as basic seasonings (like miso and soy sauce) to enhance the taste of simple meals.
• Choose foods that your family actually enjoys and eats regularly. In a disaster, comfort and familiarity are essential, and you will be more willing to consume and rotate items that are part of your regular diet (this also makes stockpiling more economical than buying only special “emergency rations”).

Stockpiling Daily Necessities and Supplies

In addition to food and water, ensure you stock other essential daily necessities to last for at least several days without access to services. Think in terms of categories: lighting, cooking, sanitation, warmth, information/communication, and any special needs specific to your household members.

• Lighting: Prepare flashlights or lanterns (with plenty of spare batteries) and/or hand-crank rechargeable lights so you can see if the power is out. Cooking: Keep a portable stove (such as a butane “cassette” stove or a small camping stove) with extra fuel canisters, along with a lighter or matches. This allows you to boil water or heat food even if electricity and gas are unavailable.
• Sanitation: Stock up on essential items such as emergency portable toilet kits, toilet paper, garbage bags, plastic bags, wet wipes, tissues, and paper towels. Plastic cling wrap is helpful for many purposes (for example, you can line plates or cover surfaces with it to avoid dirty dishes when water is scarce). Don’t forget to pack soap, hand sanitizer, and basic cleaning supplies to maintain good hygiene.
• Warmth: Have ready some blankets or sleeping bags, warm clothing (including socks and gloves), and even a sturdy vinyl or plastic sheet (tarpaulin) which can serve as an extra layer of insulation or protection. Disasters can disrupt heating, so be prepared for cold conditions.
• Information & Communication: Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to receive news and emergency information. Also, prepare portable chargers or spare batteries for your mobile phones and other critical devices. A whistle or other noisemaker is also helpful to signal for help if needed.
• First Aid and Medication: Assemble a first aid kit with bandages, disinfectant, any regular medications your family needs, and basic over-the-counter medicine (for pain, fever, stomach upset, etc.). Injuries or illnesses may require your attention for some time after a disaster.
• Important documents and valuables: Keep copies of essential documents (IDs, insurance policies, etc.) in a waterproof pouch, and have some cash on hand (as ATMs and card systems may not work during outages).

Tip: Using the “Rolling Stock” Method

Maintaining a stockpile can be done gradually and efficiently using the “rolling stock” method (rotation of stored goods). Instead of purchasing an ample emergency supply all at once, incorporate your emergency stock into your regular shopping and consumption cycle:

1. Buy a little extra of the non-perishable foods and other supplies you routinely use, until you have built up the necessary quantity for your emergency reserve.
2. As time passes, consume items from your stockpile regularly (constantly checking expiration dates) – for example, use the older canned or packaged foods in everyday meals.
3. Replenish what you consume by purchasing new stock, ensuring your emergency supplies are continually being refreshed. In this way, you maintain a constant level of preparedness without items expiring.

This rotation method ensures that your stored food remains fresh and that the money you spend on supplies is not wasted. It is also generally more budget-friendly, as you can stock up on regular foods that go on sale, rather than having to buy expensive, long-shelf-life emergency rations. By regularly using and replacing your emergency stock, you also become familiar with preparing those foods.

Tip: Your refrigerator and freezer probably contain at least a few days’ worth of food as well. However, remember that perishable foods will spoil during a power outage. Plan to eat the contents of your refrigerator first in an emergency (while they are still good), then consume pantry items that can be kept at room temperature, and save your longest-lasting emergency foods for last. If you have advance warning of a disaster (such as a coming typhoon), you might freeze some of your refrigerated food to keep it usable longer. Be mindful to prioritize using up foods that will spoil if the power is out.

Tip: An often-overlooked aspect of preparedness is having the means to cook food without access to utilities. Ensure you have cooking equipment, such as a camp stove with fuel (as mentioned above). If the electricity and gas are down, you won’t be able to use your electric rice cooker or kitchen stove. Practice using your portable stove safely, and remember to only use such devices in a well-ventilated area to avoid carbon monoxide buildup.

Taking proactive steps now to stockpile emergency supplies and essential items ensures that your household will remain self-sufficient and resilient in the event of a disaster. By thoughtfully preparing a balanced assortment of food, water, daily necessities, and practical equipment, you not only safeguard your family’s physical well-being but also provide peace of mind and comfort during stressful situations. Remember, preparedness today secures your household’s safety tomorrow.